
Gloria Duchin
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Gloria Duchin passed away peacefully, Sunday morning July 31, at her home in Vero Beach, Florida surrounded by her loving family.
Born in Yonkers, New York, on August 12, she was the daughter of Dominic and Mary ( Severino) DeStefano.
A fiercely intelligent, accomplished and beautiful woman, Gloria's drive and ambition unfolded initially in New York City at Lord & Taylor 5 th Avenue where she worked and rose in the ranks from an office clerical to fashion buyer, efficiency expert to merchandizing executive. At the same time, she was hand selected by fashion designer Anne Fogarty to be the face and model of her women's collection at Lord & Taylor. Eventually she became one of the youngest recipients to receive a Gold Medal award, presented to her by Dorothy Schaver, then president of Lord & Taylor, for exemplary achievement: a highlight of Gloria's seven year tenure at the retailer.
Her business success continued at Lillian Vernon mail order company as Vice President, with responsibility for purchasing and running the manufacturing division. It was there where Gloria's entrepreneurial spirit was nurtured and interest in running her own business took root.
In 1979, she founded Gloria Duchin Inc. a design and manufacturing company located in East Providence, Rhode Island. Running her company was a passion, and despite endless hard work she equally acknowledged the importance of timing and luck in terms of success. This was clearly exemplified by one of her very first customers, Walmart Inc. At the time the giant retailer had approximately 240 stores. As the retailer grew, so did her company. Today, Walmart remains a customer and Gloria Duchin has over 100 million copyrighted ornaments in circulation.
In later years she would often tell the story of how proud Walmart's founder, Sam Walton, was that her jewelry and metal, engravable Christmas ornaments were made in the USA.
Over the years Gloria and her company received numerous, national awards and nominations from the McDonald's Corporation, Target, Things Remembered, and Entrepreneur of the Year, New England.
A determined and generous spirit she would offer support when needed and in whatever form it might take, personally or financially. She took great pride in working with and developing young people, especially her employees which continued throughout her life time. She was enormously proud that her company contributed over a million dollars throughout the years to the Make a Wish Foundation through a collaboration with the retailer, Things Remembered. In addition her company also generously supported The 911 Fund after September 11, 2001, and also donated Guardian Angel keepsakes that were requested by many of the families from Sandy Hook, in December 2014.
Her generosity extended, often but not exclusively to the community in where she resided:
The Ronald McDonald House Providence, Hasbro Children's Hospital, American Heart Association New England, as well as the Cleveland Clinic, Indian River Hospital in Vero Beach.
In her recently published memoir, A Story of Perseverance and Success, she notes that despite all of the enjoyment and success she experienced in business, nothing was more important to her than her family.
And her family would agree.
She was pre deceased by her beloved husband David M. Duchin, brothers Albert, Carmine, Daniel, Edward, and Frank DeStefano; sisters Grace Jewels and Jean Merriman.
Gloria is survived by her loving daughter, Robyn Smalletz and her son in law Theodore of Providence, Rhode Island, grandson Jonathan, his wife Dania, and great grandchildren Shayna and Alexander of North Bethesda, Maryland.
A Celebration of Life will be held privately at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to St. Jude's Children's Hospital or Wounded Warrior Project.
Arrangements by Strunk Funeral Homes & Crematory, Vero Beach, FL.
A guestbook is available at www.strunkfuneralhome.com
